Notre Dame football position preview: Questions abound at tight end
From 2020-22 it was consensus All-America Michael Mayer leading the way, including a tie with wideout Javon McKinley as a freshman. The past two years, Mitchell Evans topped the list, although with far more modest totals than Mayer posted.
Now that Evans is in the NFL with the Carolina Panthers, the five-year streak could be in jeopardy. In 2019 Chase Claypool outpaced tight end Cole Kmet in catches (66-43).
Eli Raridon enters his senior year with 16 career catches and a block-first reputation. Offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock is on record predicting 'a huge season' for Raridon this fall, but that will require instant chemistry with a first-time starting quarterback to be determined.
Holdovers Kevin Bauman and Jack Larsen return, but promising junior Cooper Flanagan could miss the bulk of the regular season as he recovers from a torn left Achilles suffered in the Sugar Bowl against Georgia.
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Flanagan has five catches through two seasons but consistently earned playing time last year with his blocking prowess.
That leaves Arkansas transfer Ty Washington and four-star freshman James Flanigan as potential wildcards.
Like Raridon, Washington was mostly counted on to block during his three seasons at Arkansas. Denbrock tried to recruit him to Cincinnati out of high school, so the connection is there, but Washington has just 14 catches for 212 yards and four scores in his career.
Flanigan, the son of former Irish defensive tackle Jim Flanigan, is a freak athlete who also starred in hockey and track and field during his Wisconsin prep career. The younger Flanigan, who also played defense, piled up 21 sacks and 26 touchdown grabs over his final three seasons.
'I wouldn't discount young James Flanigan,' Denbrock told reporters this summer. 'He's got size, he's got power and he's a mature kid for his age.'
Depth chart
9 | TE | Eli Raridon | 6-7, 251 | Sr. (1L)-&
84 | TE | Kevin Bauman | 6-5, 253 | Gr. Sr. (1L)
85 | TE | Jack Larsen | 6-3, 250 | R-Fr. (4L)
7 | TE | Ty Washington | 6-4, 247 | Tr.-R-Jr. (2L)
88 | TE | James Flanigan | 6-6, 237 | Fr. (4L)
87 | TE | Cooper Flanagan | 6-6, 258 | Jr. (3L)-Inj.
&: Denotes remaining eligibility years
Mike Berardino covers Notre Dame football for the South Bend Tribune and NDInsider.com. Follow him on social media @MikeBerardino.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Previewing Eli Raridon and Notre Dame football tight end position group
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